Hi,ive been sufering with anxiety and my throat feels like its closing on me, and I find it hard to breath :( , I feel like my esophagus is closing up, and theres a pain in my throat, my docter siad that theres nothing to worry about because its in my head, but im really scared sometimes I cant get to sleep with it, and it just feels like its going to close up :( , how long can this last?, please reply

I have had this tightness for a week now. I finally believe it is my anxiety. When I close my eyes and concentrate on relaxing my throat, the feeling goes away. Also, when I take an ativan, it also goes away. So maybe now that I know it is anxiety, it might go away. Good luck to you

I too hv this weird sometimes scary sensation.. I stopped eating meats and breads because of it.. Eggs for breakfast with yogurt/applesauce.. for dinner, mostly soups or tunafish.. soft things..
FOR LUNCH i throw a whole bunch of things in the blender like any greens, banana or any fruit, avocado, ground up nuts and seeds, cucumber.. it's sooo much fun to experiment with what tastes the best and all.. I'm really losing weight, no cravings.. feel healthier than ever !!!!
BAck to the cause I hv 2 close friends who experienced this.. they found out it was stress, often compounded with unresolved anger from a feeling of not having a voice.. not able to speak up, feeling no one really listens.. frustration.. lots of emotions can get "stuck" in the throat.. I'm now seeking an emotional healing and practicing meditation, more prayer, relaxing... Good luck hope that helps

wow this actually really helped.
im a smoker and a drinker and ive been trying to kick these bad habits because its been this way for a few years and i dont want to permanently damage my body. while my throat gets irritated from the stuff, even thinking about smoking now "closes up" my throat. reading this post i had my gf give me a half assed shoulder massage and instantly it started to feel better.
thanks anna

Hello everyone! I have had this tight throat problem for over a year now, AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THE CAUSE AND SOLUTION. I NO LONGER HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I FEEL INSANELY BETTER. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT STRESS. TRIED TO RELAX. BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST CANNOT RELAX. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE SOMETHING I EAT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VEGETARIAN, AND SO I BECAME VEGAN. QUIT DAIRY FOOD. IT DID NOT WORK, ALTHOUGH I DO FEEL A LOT BETTER, MY ENERGY HAS GONE TO A PEAK AND NOW I CAN WORK OUT LIKE I NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. Well, lets go straight to the point then. I feel a bit bad about telling you all the truth, I wish knowing it won't stop you all from eating better, and finding creative ways to stop your stress. Life CAN get unbelievably better and wonderful by these means. But I could not keep this secret from you guys, knowing how horrible it is to have a tight throat, and worse, having no idea what causes it and how to fix it. Forget the medicines, forget stress, forget food. Have you ever heard of BODY MAPPING? Well, google it. It is basically a means of getting to know your own body. MY THROAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED JUST LIKE THAT the moment I piked up a mirror and started doing "AHHHHHH" with a big wide mouth, and got to know the interior of my mouth. Turned out I used to think my throat, that is, the place where I swallow, was a LOT lower than it actually is. TRY IT! it wont hurt, and your problems will be gone! Get to know your SOFT PALATE, try to move it, U CAN CONTROL IT and it ain't hard! Look at anatomy pictures, search for anatomy of vocal system on google, u have to realize swallowing happens right at the end of the soft palate, u have to learn to feel that place, have to have plain conscience of it. Feel the air touching that place while you breathe through your mouth. Even wen you fell anxious, stressed, when you eat shitty food, when you think you have no voice, it will work, because you will know exactly how to fix it by using your body the way it was meant to be used. YOur voice will also get a lot better... By the way, if that works, do not ever forget that what gives you that power is the love and dedication of the creators of Body mapping, of anatomists, and artists all over the world. Behold the power of love and ART! LOVE ART do art. Do it for yourself, not to be better than anyone. Just do it and be happy. And put something good in this world. And never forget you once had this problem and how it used to suck. Help other people to know themselves.. and to use their power for good.. once u get to know your own body, life is so much fun you ain't got time for even thinking bad things. Loveeeeee and peace! hope this helps!

ok so, the cause of the problem is, THINKING YOUR THROAT IS SOMEWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN WHERE IT IS. That makes you put strain in another place when you swallow, when you breath. Sometimes you are relaxed, and you do not put strain there, or you don't notice you are doing it. The moment you start paying attention to it, it starts again. It gets tense, and if feels tight, and it just gets worse until you manage to forget about it or, god forbid, you take a medicine unnecessarily. Boy I wish people wouldn't take as much medicine, it is so harmfull, but whatever. The SOLUTION of the problem is: correctly mapping the place where swallowing and breathing occurs. Ofcourse, breathing will require you also to get to know where your lungs are, knowing that your throat muscles need not be active for breathing as they are for eating. Well. Read the book. You will live better. "The Structures and Movement of breathing" by Barbara Conable. It is pretty small, and cheap. And not only for chorists as it says it is. It for anyone interested in better living without having to become a buddhist or taking pills.. And so worth it it should cost a lot more, but I am thankful it doesn't, as you will be. YOu gotta try it. Believe in it. There is a simple solution for your problem, and it is EASY and harm free.. you will feel so much better. Just think about it. How can you expect your body to work if you have no idea how to USE IT? Don't you normally go to instructions before you use something? SO get to know your body. Get to know F. M. Alexander, and William and Barbara Conable's works.

Hello everyone! I have had this tight throat problem for over a year now, AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THE CAUSE AND SOLUTION. I NO LONGER HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I FEEL INSANELY BETTER. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT STRESS. TRIED TO RELAX. BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST CANNOT RELAX. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE SOMETHING I EAT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VEGETARIAN, AND SO I BECAME VEGAN. QUIT DAIRY FOOD. IT DID NOT WORK, ALTHOUGH I DO FEEL A LOT BETTER, MY ENERGY HAS GONE TO A PEAK AND NOW I CAN WORK OUT LIKE I NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. Well, lets go straight to the point then. I feel a bit bad about telling you all the truth, I wish knowing it won't stop you all from eating better, and finding creative ways to stop your stress. Life CAN get unbelievably better and wonderful by these means. But I could not keep this secret from you guys, knowing how horrible it is to have a tight throat, and worse, having no idea what causes it and how to fix it. Forget the medicines, forget stress, forget food. Have you ever heard of BODY MAPPING? Well, google it. It is basically a means of getting to know your own body. MY THROAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED JUST LIKE THAT the moment I piked up a mirror and started doing "AHHHHHH" with a big wide mouth, and got to know the interior of my mouth. Turned out I used to think my throat, that is, the place where I swallow, was a LOT lower than it actually is. TRY IT! it wont hurt, and your problems will be gone! Get to know your SOFT PALATE, try to move it, U CAN CONTROL IT and it ain't hard! Look at anatomy pictures, search for anatomy of vocal system on google, u have to realize swallowing happens right at the end of the soft palate, u have to learn to feel that place, have to have plain conscience of it. Feel the air touching that place while you breathe through your mouth. Even wen you fell anxious, stressed, when you eat shitty food, when you think you have no voice, it will work, because you will know exactly how to fix it by using your body the way it was meant to be used. YOur voice will also get a lot better... By the way, if that works, do not ever forget that what gives you that power is the love and dedication of the creators of Body mapping, of anatomists, and artists all over the world. Behold the power of love and ART! LOVE ART do art. Do it for yourself, not to be better than anyone. Just do it and be happy. And put something good in this world. And never forget you once had this problem and how it used to suck. Help other people to know themselves.. and to use their power for good.. once u get to know your own body, life is so much fun you ain't got time for even thinking bad things. Loveeeeee and peace! hope this helps!

Thank's, im going to try more relaxing techniques and I will see where that takes it, has your throat ever closed and not been able to breath for a short while? Becasue last night my throat closed or something and I couldn't breath for a bit,
plz rply

My throat has never felt like it was closed, nor did I feel like I stopped breathing. But it does feel really tight. The feeling is like when you get choked up at a sad or happy occassion and your throat constricts. I suffer from anxiety, so I have ativan. I took one last night and the feeling went away. Maybe ask your doctor about it being stress or anxiety. You also know, the more you think about it the worse it gets. At least that is how it is with me

Hello everyone! I have had this tight throat problem for over a year now, AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THE CAUSE AND SOLUTION. I NO LONGER HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I FEEL INSANELY BETTER. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT STRESS. TRIED TO RELAX. BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST CANNOT RELAX. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE SOMETHING I EAT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VEGETARIAN, AND SO I BECAME VEGAN. QUIT DAIRY FOOD. IT DID NOT WORK, ALTHOUGH I DO FEEL A LOT BETTER, MY ENERGY HAS GONE TO A PEAK AND NOW I CAN WORK OUT LIKE I NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. Well, lets go straight to the point then. I feel a bit bad about telling you all the truth, I wish knowing it won't stop you all from eating better, and finding creative ways to stop your stress. Life CAN get unbelievably better and wonderful by these means. But I could not keep this secret from you guys, knowing how horrible it is to have a tight throat, and worse, having no idea what causes it and how to fix it. Forget the medicines, forget stress, forget food. Have you ever heard of BODY MAPPING? Well, google it. It is basically a means of getting to know your own body. MY THROAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED JUST LIKE THAT the moment I piked up a mirror and started doing "AHHHHHH" with a big wide mouth, and got to know the interior of my mouth. Turned out I used to think my throat, that is, the place where I swallow, was a LOT lower than it actually is. TRY IT! it wont hurt, and your problems will be gone! Get to know your SOFT PALATE, try to move it, U CAN CONTROL IT and it ain't hard! Look at anatomy pictures, search for anatomy of vocal system on google, u have to realize swallowing happens right at the end of the soft palate, u have to learn to feel that place, have to have plain conscience of it. Feel the air touching that place while you breathe through your mouth. Even wen you fell anxious, stressed, when you eat shitty food, when you think you have no voice, it will work, because you will know exactly how to fix it by using your body the way it was meant to be used. YOur voice will also get a lot better... By the way, if that works, do not ever forget that what gives you that power is the love and dedication of the creators of Body mapping, of anatomists, and artists all over the world. Behold the power of love and ART! LOVE ART do art. Do it for yourself, not to be better than anyone. Just do it and be happy. And put something good in this world. And never forget you once had this problem and how it used to suck. Help other people to know themselves.. and to use their power for good.. once u get to know your own body, life is so much fun you ain't got time for even thinking bad things. Loveeeeee and peace! hope this helps!

Hi, i've been having similar symptoms, and it also feels like a lump in my throat and i've been to four doctors and all four said that there is nothing wrong with my throat. I'm getting married in a couple of months and I honestly think it's stress and axiety. When I don't think about my throat i'm ok, the minute I think about it, it gets worse.

Hi to all of you....I too have suffered with throat tightness, lump in throat feeling for over two years now...I have had all kinds of tests and even had my tonsils out....I too believe that a lot of it is spasms of the esophagus, which in my case comes on from anxiety and spending too much time worrying about it...I too have panic attacks...I notice when I lie back flat that my throat does feel like it is about to close off. It is a scarey feeling and I know and understand all your anxieties over this...
Vicki

Mine is caused by anxiety and being a naturopath, I don't take medicines. However, I found with the help of a rather knowledgeable sales clerk at Whole Foods that L-theanine, the active ingredient in green tee might help. It did. Two capsules anytime I have the feeling and it goes away.

Hi there , I am hoping someone can relax my nerves about this . I have had a tightness in my throat for over a year now . I have had cbc tests done , seen 4 doctors , been to 2 er's , and even a throat specialists , and the best I can get out of them is the almighty stress theory . I know deep down inside I have stress . On the outside I try to make myself believe that there is something else wrong . It terrifies me that when I type in my symptoms online throat cancer , and aids seem to come up frequently . What I am in desperate need of is someone to explain to me what there symptoms were like !! I mean to the very detail . Cause mine are as follow . I feel ( even when I am sitting up ) like someone constantly has there hands around my throat . If I really concentrate on it I swear it almost seems like I can feel my throat swelling ( around the adams apple region ) its almost like a straining feeling . When I swallow it feels like I am trying to swallow totally dried food . I sometimes swear I can feel my pulses every beat in my throat without placing a finger on my throat . My throat specialists suggested two things !! Allergies , and acid reflux . It isnt allergies . I tried that medication for a few days , and if anything it felt worse . I am trying prevacid now for a trial run at acid reflux . I have terrible fear that it is something dreaded . I will admit that when I get worked up it feels worse from stress , but I just have a hard time believing that stress can be the lone cause . Just seems to dramatic to be just stress . Anyone have any of the same problems pleeeease contact me here , or even better by email. Thank you

Hello. My name is Lauren and I am sort of new to this whole anxiety or stress thing. But I often times have felt in the past exactly how you are describing. I will tell you that the more you focus on it, the worse it is going to get. You just need to stop searching all over for an answer, because then you try to diagnose yourself and end up freaking yourself out like you have. You have to try and find ways to relax yourself, and tell yourself it is going to be okay. Trust your doctors too. I know sometimes you want to believe differently, but I can tell you that I too deal with this throat closing feeling from time to time and the best thing for you to do is to sit down somewhere you are comfortable, grab a glass of water with ice and slowly sip on that, and read a relaxing book. Get your mind off of it, because the more you think about it the more intense it seems. You WILL be okay though, so please don't worry. Life is short, so try to relax and stop worrying so much, because everything is alright. Another thing that gets me through rough things like this is reading the bible. I don't know if you have faith in God of any sort, but God says he will never give you something you cannot handle. That is always comforting for me. He is always with you and never leaves you nor forsakes you. <3 Good luck, and try to relax as best you can.

Lauren,
Thank you so much for your words!
I've been experience this sort of anxiety and I've been trying to find more an more causes to it, not believing doctors that said it was okay...
I'll see a therapist in a couple of weeks, but I think that the best way to get over it is to have faith in God!
Best,

Would you pray for me Lauren? I have been experiencing similar problems and am having trouble swallowing my food. It has caused me not to eat well in a few days for fear of chocking. Maybe all of this is in my head and I hope it is. I hope GOD will cure me from this awful phobia. I do have faith in god and I do want to do his will. As soon as he heals me I will see life in a totally different perspective. I pray that Jesus will heal me. I know it's been a while since you have posted this Comment but I want you to know you have given me hope. He devil cannot stop me from worshipping Christ or eating. Amen.

I don’tknow how you are doing now, butI pray thatyou overcome this feelinginyour throat.I am 22 andI also have started getting this feelingin my throat, which started afterI graduated collegein December.I just thank God thatI can eat nowin peace, cause the FatherknowsI like to eat.I have been praying nonstop that God take this feeling away because the sensation comes mostly whenI am driving.I adviseyou to see lifein a new perspective now, whileyou have these sensations. Don’t wait tillyou are healed becauseyou may be waiting a long time, and wasting time. God prepares us for our next stepin life, soI see these sensations for myself as preparations for what he has for me... AndI know the Lord has BIG things for me to do for his kingdom, lolI am going to need to drive without feeling likeI’m suffocating.I pray Jesus lays his hands onyou and healyou,In His name Amen.I Loveyou and be a blessing to others.

I had that exact same problem last year and I basically stopped eating my mum in the end threatened to take me to hospital cause it was so bad. In the end I just had to push past it and force myself to eat and after awhile it goes away you just have to remember it is all in your head and that it is not going to hurt you hope this helps

Would you pray for me Lauren? I have been experiencing similar problems and am having trouble swallowing my food. It has caused me not to eat well in a few days for fear of chocking. Maybe all of this is in my head and I hope it is. I hope GOD will cure me from this awful phobia. I do have faith in god and I do want to do his will. As soon as he heals me I will see life in a totally different perspective. I pray that Jesus will heal me. I know it's been a while since you have posted this Comment but I want you to know you have given me hope. He devil cannot stop me from worshipping Christ or eating. Amen.

Thanks a lot for this, Lauren. I've been experiencing anxiety symptoms since late March and it's really unsettling.

I've tried to take my mind off it and focus on relaxing but it's so difficult for me, especially in bed at night. I'm in London and was in bed at 1 am and didn't sleep until 5 am. Terrible.

I get really worked up and freak out that I'm going to pass out or die alone in my own room :-/ so it's gotten to the point where I sometimes feel the urge to sleep in bed with my mum. She's very understanding and helpful and took me to the local hospital's accident and emergency department at 3 am when I was struggling to breathe due to chest tightness.

I'm a student at university and I guess the stress of all that comes with it brought my anxiety about, even though I couldn't exactly pinpoint why I was feeling so stressed. I'm usually a very easy-going person but I don't know.

I've just signed up as I feel you'd all understand where I'm coming from and what I feel.

Wow! Thankyou so much! I will take your advice this is exactly what i needed! i always had anxiety but the tight throat feeling started yesterday because of stress and drama!!! At first i thought i had an allergic reaction. I have it again today, it is such an awful feeling. Thankyou for your advice you are very kind.I can handle this and i will get bye.

Hello everyone! I have had this tight throat problem for over a year now, AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THE CAUSE AND SOLUTION. I NO LONGER HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I FEEL INSANELY BETTER. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT STRESS. TRIED TO RELAX. BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST CANNOT RELAX. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE SOMETHING I EAT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VEGETARIAN, AND SO I BECAME VEGAN. QUIT DAIRY FOOD. IT DID NOT WORK, ALTHOUGH I DO FEEL A LOT BETTER, MY ENERGY HAS GONE TO A PEAK AND NOW I CAN WORK OUT LIKE I NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. Well, lets go straight to the point then. I feel a bit bad about telling you all the truth, I wish knowing it won't stop you all from eating better, and finding creative ways to stop your stress. Life CAN get unbelievably better and wonderful by these means. But I could not keep this secret from you guys, knowing how horrible it is to have a tight throat, and worse, having no idea what causes it and how to fix it. Forget the medicines, forget stress, forget food. Have you ever heard of BODY MAPPING? Well, google it. It is basically a means of getting to know your own body. MY THROAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED JUST LIKE THAT the moment I piked up a mirror and started doing "AHHHHHH" with a big wide mouth, and got to know the interior of my mouth. Turned out I used to think my throat, that is, the place where I swallow, was a LOT lower than it actually is. TRY IT! it wont hurt, and your problems will be gone! Get to know your SOFT PALATE, try to move it, U CAN CONTROL IT and it ain't hard! Look at anatomy pictures, search for anatomy of vocal system on google, u have to realize swallowing happens right at the end of the soft palate, u have to learn to feel that place, have to have plain conscience of it. Feel the air touching that place while you breathe through your mouth. Even wen you fell anxious, stressed, when you eat shitty food, when you think you have no voice, it will work, because you will know exactly how to fix it by using your body the way it was meant to be used. By the way, if that works, do not ever forget that what gives you that power is the love and dedication of the creators of Body mapping, of anatomists, and artists all over the world. Behold the power of love and ART! LOVE ART do art. Do it for yourself, not to be better than anyone. Just do it and be happy. And put something good in this world. And never forget you once had this problem and how it used to suck. Help other people to know themselves.. and to use their power for good.. once u get to know your own body, life is so much fun you ain't got time for even thinking bad things. Loveeeeee and peace! hope this helps!

I agree with the person below that replied. I, too, have the same exact feelings as you are and the doctor's tell me it's nothing. I even had a Thyroid test and it wasn't it. I have both anxiety and acid reflux...so I'm pretty sure it's one or both of those. It has been so long since you posted I'm not sure if you are still reading...but I am interested to see if anything ever ended up happening. Hearing what the person said below makes me feel better, and everyone else, too. It sounds like it is sort of normal to have these feelings in the throat. Thanks to everyone for helping us all feel a little better about this.

My name is Lee and I am 36, male from Glasgow, Scotland. I have suffered from this horrible throat feeling on and off for around 9 years. I have had several tests on my throat and stomach and tried anti acids for about 6 years. I get very depressed and suffer from anxiety. A speaclist finally told me that he believed it was all down to stress. And like yourself it is. It is a worrying condition and unpleasant but not anything to worry about. If you can remove stress from your life, you will remove this feeling in the throat. I am suffering from a bad case of this as I write to you here. I can assue you that it is stress, so please try to deal with your stress levels.

I had really bad Anxiety and depression panic attacks and agoraphobia in 2008 it was out of control!! once I got my Anxiety under control this whole throat tightness lump in throat went away! I have just Lost a loved one in October and have had lots of stress in my Life ( life is real hard ) so yep guess what Anxiety has crept up panic attacks starting again digestive problems aches and pains and the chest tightness and throat tightness hard to swallow feeling has reared it's Ugly head!! I say Anxiety is the cause!!

Hi Sugarshayne76
I am just going through something very similar and I'm wondering if I will ever find answers. What did it end up being? Was it all stress/anxiety related or did you find something else was wrong? All i know about mine is I don't have strep throat or infection of anykind and I don't have mono. Doctors are suspecting Athesma, allergies, stomach issues but they don't really know. I'm feeling this strange constricting feeling that you discribe along with swollen glands/tonscills. Please let me know what you found out. Thank you.

Hi Sugarshayne76
I am just going through something very similar and I'm wondering if I will ever find answers. What did it end up being? Was it all stress/anxiety related or did you find something else was wrong? All i know about mine is I don't have strep throat or infection of anykind and I don't have mono. Doctors are suspecting Athesma, allergies, stomach issues but they don't really know. I'm feeling this strange constricting feeling that you discribe along with swollen glands/tonscills. Please let me know what you found out. Thank you.

Sugarshayne,
i have had this lump in the throat feeling for about 6 months now. I too thought it was either throat cancer or thyroid cancer. When I swallow it feels like there is a lump in my throat. I can't wear a turtleneck or scarf around my neck because it makes the feeling worse. Even a necklace or high neck t-shirt makes me feel like someones hands are around my neck trying to strangle me. Funny enough, it doesn't hurt when I am eating or drinking. When I eat my food goes down fine. If I press my finger on my throat it also feels worse. Also I don't feel it as much in the morning or when I am busy doing something. When I don't think about it I don't feel it. At night when I am laying in bed and my mind wanders, I start thinking about it more. At first I thought it was some kind of nut allergy or something. Went to see a throat specialist and he put a camera down there and said everything looked normal. He said I probably had acid reflux and gave me some pills. I didn't take them because I am afraid to take medication for fear of getting cancer later in life so I try to stay away from all meds. I really do think it is stress and anxiety even though I feel like I don't have any stress or nothing to be anxious about. But sub-consciously I am and you are too. If your doctor did all the neccessary tests and can't find anything it most likely is stress. Look at this link about lump in throat. It is called "cricopharyngeal spasm". These are my exact symptoms. Whenever I get into a panic about my throat feeling I read this and makes me feel better. Let me know if they are your symptoms too. Hope this helps....Keep us updated...

hiya mary, like most other peoples story i can totally relate to your symptoms, i have noticed kkeping yourself occupied takes your mind off it for a litlle while, but do you eva find you have a dry throat as a result problems? iv been suffering with this for bout a year nw, n found few neat ways to keep the discomfort low when it occurs, so email if you wnt to hear em, hope u feel betta!

:roll: hi yall
i understand completely what you are going thru...I have struggled with this for two years now...No fun and very scarey at times..
I wrote directly to you sugarshayne since you included your email...
I hope we can all learn to relax and take life a little easier...Maybe our lumpy throats will get better!!! :lol:
take care......
Viki

Hi ya'll
i am so glad that I found this site!! I been having the same symptoms for about a year now and like sugarshayne76 wrote "everytime I typed symptoms in site for throat cancer pop up. It got to the point I didn't even wanted to look at any websites anymore out of fear that the worst might be true. I tried the relaxing technic and its true it feels better. If it would be cancer I dont think it would do that. Thanks so much to all of you.

I have to go in to surgery for hysterectomy on the 22 aug and after that I will go see a throat spec. Just to be 100% sure that there is nothing wrong. Since I be home for 6 weeks I will be on this site quiet often.

I had a bad tight throat a week ago. I woke up in the middle of the night almost choking to death. I was choking on my own saliva it was sooo horrible. I was in bad pain too, it finally went away though thank god!!

Yes, I experience this too. I went to an ent, to be told evrything was ok, except my tonisls were 3 cms long and 2.8cms wide.. Huge. So they were taken out. No cancer was present).

Then it still continued.. I have tried to diagnose myself on numerous occasions ranging from candida, to allergies, to dislocated hyoid bone. Some things have worked, but it goes away when I relax the muscles with tiger balm (on the outside) or have some warm baths. There is a chinese medical condition called "plumstone throat" that can be helped with a patent medicine called "xiao yao wan" that can also help.

My symptoms were: feeling of constriction, sometimes a feeling that my windpipe has grown smaller, slight ear pain, feeling of things moving around in my throat, worse at night, after lots of food, especially when I go to bed. The symptoms will come and go for no apparent reason.. Except maybe underlying anxiety.

I sometimes feel like a total hypochondriac too. I think it is all part of the stress thing... Or it is allergies (i have always had them) combined with stress. This has been really useful to me.. Thanks.

I guess I am in a similar position. I am 37, male, ex smoker (4 years) and have had this feeling of constricted throat now for about 3 or four months. Exact symptoms vary but generally a feeling of constriction or pinching just below my adam's apple, tingling in my neck and chin (comes and goes) sometimes odd pains or pressures around the side of my neck also the odd sensation of a bubble of air escaping from a trapped position just beneath my skin around the lower neck region. Generally if I tip my head back I can "burp" and it is a great relief. Food goes down a treat and eases the situation as does relaxing. Another sporadioc symptom is the feeling that someone had poured small ice crystals in a ring around my mid-low neck - then when you bend your head in a certain way they rub up against the skin - which is sensitive. None of the pains are acute - just annoying.

I have been to the doctors three times (two locums and my own) first locum thought it was an infection as my inner ears were a bit red - but no antibiotics were given. Second locum thought thyroid problems but that has come back all clear. My own doctor thought there was little wrong but I have to go back next week if the sensation is still the same.

It is really very distressing - especially trying to get to sleep when you get that "can't breath" impression but in reality you can. I have never had any allergies but I understand you can get these things later in life anyway so I am open to that possibility

Hi, I have been searching for a few months now to find the answers I need to know. This is the first place though I have found anyone that seems to have my same anxiety over these problems that I am having. Some days I feel like something is in my throat and I need to clear it out but it never happens. Other days I think the problem went away because I feel nothing, and still there are also days that I feel like my neck is being kind of squeezed and is really tight (kind of like right now haha). All I see on the web is cancer sites and it really gets me worked up. But I dont cough anything up ever, I dont feel pain, I dont have any other symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, loss or sleep or appetite. No cough, no chills, no hoarseness, overly tired, or vomiting. So I dont have the flu, I cant have cancer. I have heard of tonsil stones from reading but other then that I cant figure it out. I was talking to a friend who is in school almost finished to be a doctor and he said since I quit the habit of smoking that I did for 3 years that my body creates extra mucus when you do smoke because you get dried out but when you quit your body keeps producing that. I dont think that makes my throat feel tight though. I too think I might also have acid reflux because I burp all the time and they are very acidic! I have a doctor appointment scheduled for next tuesday and I am freaking out. I think I may be just acting like a hypochondriac but who knows. What is anyone's opinion? :?:

I suffered very mildly from some of the symptoms that you have all listed. I sometimes massage my throat or move the wind pipe from side to side to see if there is anything there - lump etc.

But this doesn't happen to me much anymore - if it does I have a drink or maybe a chewy or something light to eat. It is was never there when I ate. I think the best thing to do is remember that it is just anxiety and it will not hurt you! Deep breathing and concerntrating on other things is good.

Yes the sensation does ease when I am eating. I went to the doctor again yesterday and he has booked an appointment with an ent specialist (probably be a few weeks). Strangly as soon as I left the doctors most of the symptoms went away and stayed away all of last night. Today they are back in a very mild form - so I am hoping that their dissapearance continues (i'm still keeping the appointment though). The "lump in the throat" feeling had gone completely - though it is slightly back. The only change is that I have been taking some gaviscon (anti heartburn / indigestion syrup) for about a week. I don't know if it is related though.

I am not sure what I did to make my tightness/lump in the throat dissapear. I think that I just started to believe that it was anxiety and nothing else!
I still get a dry mouth and a sticky throat, but when I feel the lump begining to come I try to do other stuff rather then sitting there waiting for it to get worse.

I have heard only good things about the linden method and ordered it a couple of weeks ago, delivery should be in 2 weeks - can't wait. I know that charles linden describes in his introduction to the method all the symptoms that I feel - including the lump in the throat. I am very much hoping that this will help me - and believe me if it does everyone will know about it!

It sounds like what most of you have is a condition called "globus hystericus." this is caused by anxiety, and it not harmful, just terribly annoying! I had it years ago, and it sometimes takes that long to go away. I used to flare up worse when it was cold, or when I was nervous about finances, and stressful things like that. It is not throat cancer, so don't fret! The less you think about it, the less you will notice it but it does take it's going away! You can check it out on the web and find out all about it. Good luck everyone!

Hello everyone,
my name is fran I am 28. I have suffered with this feelin 4 about a year now i,ve already had a camera up my nose 2 c down the back of my throat about 6 montha ago things r just gettin worse now so i'm going 2 have camera down throat next week doctors told me it was globas hystericas which basically means he thinks i'm a fruit. I've suffered with bulimia 4 about 7 year which was really bad at one point I would vomit maybe 6 times a day.So that has'nt helped matters I really feel 4 u all. I sometimes get it that bad I open my front door and stand there incase I die it sounds so dramatic but that's how it gets me. Worse if I am alone. I was on anti deppression which made me feel like I was going nuts.

Hello fran44,
I just read your message and I found it to be the most relative to my situation as far as bulimia and anti-depressants go and tightness in throat. I see you posted this in 2005 and was wondering how you are feeling now. My throat just feels tight but no pain when swallowing or anywhere, just tight throat especially by my glands below ears. Tightness eases when I eat and when I drink plenty of water. I have had this feeling for 3 months now. I haven't been to the doctor because there was never any pain just annoying tightness - I thought I pulled my muscle. If you can help me or advise me in any way, it's greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hi dardar,
I saw your posted this today. I have had this "tight throat" feeling for 3 months also. I went to the doctor after 2 months and she said it is a symptom of stress. I had a pain in my chest about 3 months ago and still have it on and off (the doctor thinks inflamed cartilage from lifting my daughter). I started googling symptoms and got myself into a real down state, and the neck thing started then. I guess if I think logically I can see how this is related to stress, but I still kind of freak myself out. The past two days I have had a increase in stress, and I noticed that the throat feels extremely tight. I haven't come up with any methods to ease it, but I have noticed over the past few months that if I am out with my friends or busy with things that I don't notice it as much. Also, while on vacation, I barely felt it at all. I eat fine, like you said, and no pain when swallowing...just an extremely tight throat. I was wondering about posture too...a nurse suggested that the feeling may be more aggravated by looking down to help my kids, etc...Hope this helps...C

Thanks for sharing your experience CeeCee, it helps to ease at least this anxiety that I've been having about not knowing something about my body. Posture is something interesting to think about, I started a new job where I sit behind a laptop and probably strain my shoulders and neck, not mentioning the stress with this damned stock market and how much it has been fluctuating. I also feel like my left gland behind my ear is slightly inflamed. I've been drinking a lot of water to try and flush out any buildup. It just feels like I have had a virus and never really got it completely healed, still having a little stiffness, tightness, swollen gland and underwater feeling in ear. Ok well I feel a little better now knowing somebody else has/had similar symptoms.

Hello everyone! I have had this tight throat problem for over a year now, AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THE CAUSE AND SOLUTION. I NO LONGER HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I FEEL INSANELY BETTER. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT STRESS. TRIED TO RELAX. BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST CANNOT RELAX. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE SOMETHING I EAT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VEGETARIAN, AND SO I BECAME VEGAN. QUIT DAIRY FOOD. IT DID NOT WORK, ALTHOUGH I DO FEEL A LOT BETTER, MY ENERGY HAS GONE TO A PEAK AND NOW I CAN WORK OUT LIKE I NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. Well, lets go straight to the point then. I feel a bit bad about telling you all the truth, I wish knowing it won't stop you all from eating better, and finding creative ways to stop your stress. Life CAN get unbelievably better and wonderful by these means. But I could not keep this secret from you guys, knowing how horrible it is to have a tight throat, and worse, having no idea what causes it and how to fix it. Forget the medicines, forget stress, forget food. Have you ever heard of BODY MAPPING? Well, google it. It is basically a means of getting to know your own body. MY THROAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED JUST LIKE THAT the moment I piked up a mirror and started doing "AHHHHHH" with a big wide mouth, and got to know the interior of my mouth. Turned out I used to think my throat, that is, the place where I swallow, was a LOT lower than it actually is. TRY IT! it wont hurt, and your problems will be gone! Get to know your SOFT PALATE, try to move it, U CAN CONTROL IT and it ain't hard! Look at anatomy pictures, search for anatomy of vocal system on google, u have to realize swallowing happens right at the end of the soft palate, u have to learn to feel that place, have to have plain conscience of it. Feel the air touching that place while you breathe through your mouth. Even wen you fell anxious, stressed, when you eat shitty food, when you think you have no voice, it will work, because you will know exactly how to fix it by using your body the way it was meant to be used. By the way, if that works, do not ever forget that what gives you that power is the love and dedication of the creators of Body mapping, of anatomists, and artists all over the world. Behold the power of love and ART! LOVE ART do art. Do it for yourself, not to be better than anyone. Just do it and be happy. And put something good in this world. And never forget you once had this problem and how it used to suck. Help other people to know themselves.. and to use their power for good.. once u get to know your own body, life is so much fun you ain't got time for even thinking bad things. Loveeeeee and peace! hope this helps!

I get that too only I think I do it on my own due to stress and anxiety. I purposely tighten my throat without even thinking about it. It started when I was taking diet pills from the doctor. Since I am off them, it has subsided and sometimes I find myself tightening my throat and so I then try to relax. It now comes and goes. Depends on the stress in my life. I am diagnosed with chronic anxiety anyway.